Audible-signal device



pr. 10, 1923- Y J. L. D|NSMOOR AUDIBLE SIGNAL DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet l Filed Aug. 7, 1917 Apr. 10, 1. 923.

J. L. DINSMOOR AUDIBLE SIGNAL DEVICE 2 A shets-sheet 2 Filed Aug.

srA'rEs PATENT terns JOHN L, DINSMOOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

i AUDIBLE-SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed August 7,1917. Serial No. 184,832.

To all whom it may coagerna Be it known that 1, JOHN L. DINSMOOR, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of ,Philadelphia, in the county and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain Improvements in Au vices, of which the following is' a tion.

of Philadelphia dible-Signal De- This invention relates to certain improvements in audible signal devices and more particularly in that class or vices, especially type of such dedesigned and adapted foruse upon automobiles, and the like and which are provided with I the object of the invention signal device of this genera electrical actuating means and is to provide a 1 character of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature,

and of a presenting important advan compact and durable construction,

tages for use by reason of the convenience and economy with which it may be manufactured and assembled, and provided with novel and improved electrical actuating means, and arranged as to permi so constructed t of dlspenslng with the'necessity for careful or accurate adjustment of its operative parts, and to avoid liability of breakdown or defective operation such as commonly results in such devices as ordinarily faulty or impaired adjustm thereof.

' constructed, from ent of the parts The invention consists in certain novel features of-the construction, and combinatrons and arrangements of the several parts of the improved signal devi ce, whereby certain important advantages are attained, and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive, and convenient and effective for otherwise betteradapted use,

, and more all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In order that my improvements maybe the better understood, describe the invention with I will now proceed'to reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 1s iYSQCtlOIlfil view taken axlally through a slgnal devlce constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 1s a face view 0 f the device specifica- Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one of the members ofthe electrical actuating means detached; 1

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating a slightly different construction of the improved signal device comprised within my present invention, and

Figure 5 is another sectional view somewhat similarto Figures 1 and 4 but illustrating still another modified formation of the improved signal device according to my invention.

In these views I have shown my improvements embodied for use in an automobile horn having a vibratory sounding diaphragm but although my present invention presents important advantages for use in signal devices of this particular kind, I do notdesire to be understood as restricting myself to this special application of the invention exclusively.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the improved automobile horn embodying my in-. vention is provided with a frame or casing 1, herein shown as formed from a cupped metal diskadapted to enclose and protect certain of the operative parts, and having at its forward part an outwardly directed annular flange 2. The forward open portion of this, cupped metal disk or casing memher is covered by an annular face plate or closure 3, the edge portions of-which are herein shown as permanently secured to the 5 in a well known way. Around the edge of the diaphragm is arranged a gasket 7 of greater dlameter than the diaphragm, its edge projecting beyond the edge of said diaphragm and being held at the outer part by signal is assured. To assist in centering the diaphragm, so. that its edges shall be out of contact with the ,rivets or equivalent securing means, the gasket is cemented to the diaphragm or, 'as shown in the drawings, said diaphragm may be provided with an annular corrugation 8 or equivalent pro ect1 ons, engageable within. said gasket to center the 'same and prevent lateral shifting of the diaphragm when the parts of the device are assembled.

As shown, the marginal portion of the diaphragm is unattached except that said marginal portion is clamped between the face plate or closure 3 land the flange 2 of the casing member and marginal partbf the diaphragm being thus held in electr cal engagement with the casing member 1; in other words, said marginal portion of the diaphragm is not engaged by the rivets 4, or

in lateral and edgewise in this i, of the diaphragm possesses marked utility equivalent fasteners, but on contrary is substantiall free therefrom. It is tobe noted that gas ets 7 is so positioned that it substantially precludes mechanical contact between the marginal part of the diaphragm and the fastening means 4 for the two parts (1, 3) of the casing, although said diaphragm 6 is retained in electrical contact with the casing member 1, as described, and connection the annular corrugation 8 for the reason that said corrugation presents a bead or shoulder adapted for niechanical contact with one member, 3, of the-two part casing in such a manner as to render the diaphragm self-centering within the casing when assembling the several parts, as well as to preclude displacement of said diaphragm directions.

9 represents a solenoid enclosed within the shell or casing, to the member 1 of which it is secured in any preferred manner, as for example, y' means of screws or the like which serve to hold the insulatingsupport 10 of the solenoid coil flush upon the flat rear wall of said member 1, as clearly seen in Figure 1. One end of the coil 11 of the solenoid has electrical connection, as shown at- 12, with an insulated binding screw 14 upon the shell or casing member 1, whilst the opposite end of such coil has electricaL connection with the brass or other metallic sleeve 15 upon which the solenoid coil is Wound. I This latter connection may be effected readily and conveniently by stripping the end of the wire from. which said 0011 11 16 represents a contact plate or member in electrical connection with the sleeve 15, and formed from any suitable conducting material, and 17 represents the core or plunger of the solenoid which is adapted, when the solenoid is energized, to be drawn within the sleeve 12. The extremity of this core or plunger projects beyond the sleeve 15 adjacent to the diaphragm 6, and is provided with a screw or rivet 18 formed from copper or other good conductive non-magnetic material, by preference, which aifords a head or shoulder beneath which is engaged a leaf spring 19, centrally perforated for the passage of the shank of such screw or rivet 18, and provided with oppositely projecting resilient arms 20 which, by engagement upon the plate or member 16, assure electrical connection of the latter with the core or plunger and at the same time exert their tension to retain the headed projecting end of said core or plunger normally drawn outwardly from and beyond the sleeve 15 in such position as to contact upon and connect electrically with the central part of the diaphragm except at such time as the solenoid is energized. To assure good electrical connection of the conductive screw or rivet 18 with the diaphragm, the latter is herein shown provided at its central part with a copper or other conductive rivet or contact point 21.

The diaphragm 6 being in .electrical connection with the shell or casing member 1, which carries a second binding screw 22, it

will be apparent that when the improved si nal device is connected in a suitable circu t, and the latter is closed, the current will flow between the binding screwsl and 22 by way of the connection 12, coil 11, sleeve 15, thence directly or by way of the contact plate 16 and spring 19 to the ,core ger 17, to diaphragm 6 and easing member 1, so as to energize the solenoid and cause its core or plunger to be drawn within itssleeve spring 19 to or plunsuffice to withdraw the renewed contact with the diaphragm, so as".

to restore the circuit and simultaneously to operate as a hammer or striker for sounding the diaphragm after which, the solenoid, being again energized by the restoration of its circuit, will operate once more to interrupt said circuit by the attraction of the plunger, the rapidly alternating interruptions and restorations of the circuit effected in or plunger,

this manner giving rise to the audible signal or alarm by reason of the vibrations of the diaphragm caused by the repeated striking of the coreor plunger thereon during its reciprocatory movement. 1

In the construction and arrangement of the parts shown it .will be evident that the mechanical sounding devices, including the diaphragm 6 and the hammer or plunger 17also serve as the circuit controlling or interrupter members, whereby not only is a very material and important economy and advantage attained in the production and manufacture of the improved signal devices by reason of dispensing with the necessity for accurate and careful adjustment of the mechanical and electrical contact devices independently of one another, such as is requisite in various other devices of this general character in which the circuit controlling devices are separately formed from the mechanical sounding devices.

It will also be apparent that the structure and arrangement of the parts is such that the spring 19 operates, in the normal de-energized condition of the device, to place the diaphragm under a certain preliminary or initial strain or fiexure, by reason of the force with which the core or plunger 17 is pressed thereon, and this is of advantage by reason of assuring improved electrical connection between the diaphragm and said core and furthermore, on account of the retention of such electrical connection bein assured throughout a longer interval of t1rne, as compared with ordinary. interrupting or controllin devices such as are commonly used in 05161 signal devices of this general character, ating by its resilience as a following contact member, whereby a higher degree of ellic'ienc is attained in the operation of the solenoi calculated to permit the employment of a stronger spring, whose increased tension will assure the delivery of a heavier blow upon the diaphragm by the core or plunger upon its projection.

The structure and arrangement of the electrical actuating means and sounding devices is also of an extremely simple and-comparatively inexpensive nature, calculated to permit production of the improved signal devices at a minimum cost by reason of the reduction in the number of parts commonly required for such devices, and the facility and convenience with which such parts may be assembled, it being apparent that when the coil has been secured in the casing member 1, and its electrical connections have been effected, the core or plunger 17 is readily insertible at the open front part of the solenoid and when in place is securely retained therein by the application of the diaphragm across the open front portion of said casing member.

the diaphragm oper- As shown the plunger 17 and spring 19 are free from direct attachment to any of the parts, thus facilitating the assemblage of the V have mechanical and electrical contact with Y 16. The spring is free from attachthe plate although it contacts elecment to plate 16,, trically therewith flow to and through the diaphragm in the manner described, and, further, said spring has mechanical contact with said plate 16 which thus offers mechanically the required resistance to insure the flexure of the spring when the plunger is drawn within the coil and when the reaction of the spring forces the plunger into hammer contact with the diaphragm. As shown, the plunger and the spring attached thereto are free to turn or rotate relatively to the coil, the sleeve and the face plate.

The riveting of the members 1 and 3, whilst not being essential to the invention is, in some instances, a feature of material in order that current may advantage since it affords a means for preventing tampering with the operative parts and lessens the liability of derangement or deterioration by affording a permanent mounting for the diaphragm and closure for the casing; To facilitate the removal of the rivets in case it shpuld be desirable to have access to the enclosed parts, I' have shown the employment of tubular rivets which may readily be punched out and replaced by others after any necessary, internal repairs or replacements shall have been effected.

To prevent or lessen deterioration of the electrical contact devices due to sparking, I have shown the employment of a resist ance 25 affording a connection between the terminals 14 and 22 in parallel 'with the solenoid winding 11. This resistance affords a path for the current flow in the coil when the companion parallel partial circuit including the winding 11 is broken after energization of the solenoid, and efiectively prevents injurious sparking so as to permit the employment of copper or other similar contacts, and to dispense with the necessity of using silver or other'non-oxidiz'iible contacts such as are required in ordinary signal devices of this general type.

From the above description of my improvements it will be seen that the signal or alarm device. constructed according to my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature, and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the efficiency of its operation and the freedom from liability of deterioration due to defective or impaired adjustment or oxidation of the sounding orcontact devices,

its

the the and it will also be obvious from the above description that the device is susceptible of considerable modification without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and for this reason I do not desire to be understood as restricting myself to the precise formation and arrangement of the several parts of the device as herein set forth in carrying out the invention in practice.

For example, although in many cases it may be a feature of material advantage to employ the loosely mounted core or plunger 17 and spring 19, retained in position merely by the. application of the diaphragm outside them, by reason of the facility of assemblage and economy in construction afforded thereby, the invention is not limited in this particular, since if desired the construction shown in Figure 4 may be employed, wherein the core or plunger 17 is carried by the spring 19 which latter has an insulated screw support at 19 upon the plate 16, which is formed as a partition extended across the shell or casing member 1 and supported at its margin upon a flange 16 thereof. In this form of the device, I have shown both binding screws 14 and 22 insulated, and the conductive diaphragm 6 mounted between insulating gaskets 7, 7 a and having electrical communication with one of said screws.

In other cases, the structure shown in Figure 5 may be employed without departure from the invention. As shown in this view, the casing member 1 co-operates as a contact member with the core or plunger 17 in lieu of the diaphragm, the latter being struck and mechanically actuated to sound the alarm upon the energization of the solenoid instead of upon its de-energization as in the preceding embodiments of the invention, and the retracting spring 19 serving to restore electrical communication between the core or plunger and' casing member 1 after the solenoid shall have been tie-energized by interruption of the circuit. In this embodiment of the invention, the casing member 1 may he made somewhat resilient at its point of contact with the core or plunger 17, to

rolong electrical communication or if preerred, a contact spring may be provided upon such member 1 for this purpose, to assure the desired efficiency of the solenoid. seen in Figure 5, the diaphragm 6 is mounted between insulating gasketsais in the structure shown in Figure 4, but it Will be apparent that this is not essential, since end of the'plunger which strikes upon diaphragm may be tipped with a fiber or other insulating block, as indicated at 26 in the drawing.

It will also be apparent that when my improvements are embodied in devices other than that herein shown, as for example in bells or the like, where the member corresponding with the diaphragm is not sufliciently resilient to operate as a following contact, a contact spring may be interposed between said member and the plunger having suflicient resilience to prolong electrical communication with the latter to the desired extent. In such cases, the contact spring will preferably be provided with a striker normally slightly out of contact with the hell or equivalent member.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A signal device having a resilient current carrying sounding diaphragm, a sole-- noid having at one side an annular contact member in circuit therewith, a current carrying plunger revolubly mounted in the solenoid, adapted to be vibrated upon energization thereof and adapted for electrical con nection with the diaphragm to control the solenoid circuit, and a spring connected with the plunger having shiftable connection with the annular contact member for normally holding the plunger pressed upon the diaphragm and operable to place said diaphragm under an initial flexure adapted to prolong electrical connection wit-h the plunger when the solenoid is energized.

2. In a signal device, a current carrying diaphragm, a bushing provided with a face plate, a solenoid the coil of which is wound on the bushing, a plunger movable within the coil and free to center itself magnetically therein, and a spring attached to the plunger, the terminal portions of said spring being in electrical contact with the face plate and said spring and plunger affordinga path for theflow of current to the diaphragm.

3. A signal device embodying a flexible diaphragm, a solenoid coil, a current. conducting spool for said coil, a plunger co-opcrating with said diaphragm to act as a hammer thereon, and a current-carrying spring member positioned externally to said coil and spool and fixedly attached to said plunger, said spring member being seated in electrical contact with said spool and the latter acting as a mechanical resistance to the flexure of the spring when the plunger is magnetically attracted by the coil.

4. A signal device embodying a flexible diaphragm, a solenoid coil, a current-conducting spool therefor, a plunger movable within said spool and positioned for electrical-contact with said diaphragm substantially centrally thereof, and a current-carrying spring member positioned exteriorly of the spool and seated in electrical contact there-With, said spring, member being supported by the plunger and said plunger and its attached spring being free to rotate axially with respect to the coil and the spool.

5. signal device embodyingi' a flexible diaphragm, a solenoid spool, a plunger mov able within the spool and contacting with ger with the attached spring and the spool the diaphragm substantially centrally therebeing in series with the exciting coil and 10 of, a spring positioned exteriorlyof the with the diaphragm, whereby the plunger spool and seated thereon and in electrical acts on the diaphragm with a hammer blow contact therewith, said spring being attached under the impulse of said spring.

to the plunger, and an exciting coil wound In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed on the spool with the inner leg of-the windmy name.

ing in contact with said spool, said plun-. JOHN L. DINSMOOR. 

